On My Honour I Promise...

The doorbell rang. I looked out and saw 2 Boy Scouts.

Instinct told me it's job week and they are out to do the odd jobs. 'Hold on! Coming!' I shouted out from my bedroom window. I let them in.

I was glad to see Adam and Sanjeeva. In all these years I've hardly had contact with Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. It brings back so many cherished memories of the young school days when I diligently dressed in my Girl Guide uniform for the meetings. Also, graduated to being a Land Ranger as I grew older.

Sad to say I do not have any photos of myself in my guiding uniform. Perhaps my friends will have. We plan to have a class reunion sometime soon. Still remember the well starched deep blue skirt and top uniform. Around the campfire we sang fun songs like 'Ging Gang Goolie Goolie' and 'Shoo Fly!'

Like my fellow Girl Guides, we held our 3 fingered salute and recited our pledge as fervently as we could:

On My Honour I promise to do my best. To do my duty to God and the country. To help other people at all times. To obey the Guide laws.

And when the meeting ended, it was time to sing taps:

Day is done. Gone the sun. From the hills. From the sky. Safely rest. God is nigh.






Thinking back, there were so many ideals for me /us to embrace. I looked forward to singing taps for the simple message it conveys.

Anyone of you out there belonged to the Boy Scout/Girl Guide movement ? Or for that matter a uniform organisation like the Boys Brigade? Happy memories!

Nothing beats the camaraderie and mutual understanding that the Girl Guide instils in us. As I watched Adam and Sanjeeva going about their task, they were working well side by side each other. One corner of my garden had some litter and needed raking. They did just that . Soon there was a pile of dried brown leaves.



Adam and Sanjeeva are lower secondary boys from the Victoria Institution. And they belong to the Lion patrol. I asked them a few things about their patrol. This job week has an urgent need at hand. Whatever these boys and their fellow scouts collect will go towards building a new club house. Due to a short circuit, their old wooden club house burned down.

I remember washing cars, sweeping compounds and helping my godma to make kueh. That was my kind of job week. These boys are ready to make job week fruitful.

In The Azanin Dance Garden (Laman Tari Azanin)

Nothing that was to happen on Wednesday morning thwarted our trip to the Azanin Dance Garden.'

The members of the MCG ( Malaysian Culture Group) gathered to car pool for this exciting outing to Hulu Langat To cut a long story short, we got lost in the concrete jungle of Cheras etc. Finally we got a taxi to lead us there. 3 cars followed the 'leader'. Some who navigated better got there first waited patiently for us to arrive.

We were warmly greeted by 2 dance members of Suasana Cultural Centre and Datin Azanin Dato Ahmad herself . First we had to cross a swing bridge over the clear Langat river. Then the lush garden took our breath away. Heliconias! Costus! And so many other plants looking absolutely brilliant in the mid morning sun

Datin Azanin, dancer- choreographer showed us the way to the Balai - Rumah Ibu where many musical instruments and artefacts are kept. Then , down some stone steps to cross a well- manicured lawn to the Balai Tari.




The members of the MCG gathered and chatted over a quick cup of tea/coffee with a platter of local kueh delicacies . Then, Datin Azanin formally welcomed and introduced herself and her dancers.

'Art is my passion . Art is absorbing and feeling ...' she enthused. She talked about her world of dance and work that has encompassed her life. Our ears pricked to absorb the passion she felt in her work and achievements.

Passion requires the patience, tenacity and the sweat to put her ideas together. Datin Azanin's work requires solid research and documentation to keep the rich cultural heritage in general of the region and specifically the performing arts of Malaysia alive.




Single- handedly, since 1980 she has pursued her dream; hence the birth of the Suasana Cultural Centre . This speaks volumes for her determination. Because she breathes and lives dance and the performing arts, she is a key figure to keep traditional heritage alive.


To our delight, she showed us some dance movements of the royal courts . Also, she talked about the shadow puppet ( wayang kulit) and the silat ( Malay art of self defence) , the makyong theatre, and the royal court dances accompanied by the classical music.






Some 'brave' ladies joined the dance demo. Fingers quivered and twirled, legs well positioned, bodies gently swayed. I was busy snapping some lovely movements.








In the short time spent together , Datin Azanin awakened our senses , raw as they may be. Speaking for myself! Really, a visit isn't enough to soak it all in.







Her reputation has garnered her acclaim from an international audience from countries like USA, Australia, Germany, Singapore and admirers far flung.

What's more, it's comforting to know she's mesmerising the young ones under her tutelage.

So, in the Azanin Dance Garden, cultural heritage has every good chance to live and thrive.